Brief for pregnant woman

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a brief for pregnant woman, specifically, relates to a brief for pregnant woman that, as desired, the height and position of the top line of the front of the brief can be lowered not to press the abdomen of the pregnant woman. The brief includes at least one upper coupling member being positioned adjacent to the top line of an upper portion of the front of the brief along the top line; and at least one lower coupling member being positioned in a lower portion of the front of the brief so as to correspond to the upper coupling member, the upper coupling member being configured to couple to the lower coupling member such that the top line of the brief is lowered to the lower portion of the front of the brief.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a brief for pregnant woman,specifically, relates to a brief for pregnant woman that, as desired,the height and position of the top line of the front of the brief can belowered not to press the abdomen of pregnant woman.

2. Background of the Related Art

In general, a brief for pregnant woman is designed such that the topline of the front of the brief is positioned on the abdomen of thepregnant woman, sometimes to cover the abdomen of the pregnant womanentirely.

Even though a good elastic material is used for the brief, the top lineof the brief positioned on the abdomen presses the abdomen causing thepregnant woman to feel heavy and indigestion. Because most of pregnantwomen gain weight of 10-20 kg during pregnancy and become sensitive whendue is about to come, they may feel pain however the pressing is small.Furthermore, the pain of the pregnant woman may influence onpsychological state of the fetus.

Therefore, it has been requested that a brief for pregnant woman whichcan provide comfortable room to the fetus be developed by keeping theabdomen of the pregnant woman comfortable as much as possible.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present invention are intended to resolve theabove problems. The followings are some of the objects of the presentinvention.

One object of the present invention is to provide a brief for pregnantwoman that, as desired, the height and position of the top line of thefront of the brief can be lowered not to press the abdomen of thepregnant woman as the abdomen of the pregnant woman distends withpregnancy period.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a brief forpregnant woman that the height and position of the top line of the frontof the brief can be lowered not to press the abdomen of a pregnant womanwho has a big build and abdomen, by lowering a left and a right portionof the top line which are located from the center point of the top lineby a predetermined length.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a brief forpregnant woman that increases manufacturing efficiency and reduces themanufacturing cost by using a simple configuration in which the top lineof the front of the brief pressing the abdomen can be lowered easily bya desired height at a desired position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a brief forpregnant woman that does not require a support fixture to adjust theposition of the top line of the front of the brief, and thus therebyhelping the pregnant woman feel a cool wearing sensation even in summerseason.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a brief forpregnant woman that can be wearable as a regular brief after pregnancyperiod, by adjusting the position of the top line of the front of thebrief.

A brief for pregnant woman according to an embodiment of the presentinvention comprises: at least one upper coupling member being positionedadjacent to the top line of an upper portion of the front of the briefalong the top line; and at least one lower coupling member beingpositioned in a lower portion of the front of the brief so as tocorrespond to the upper coupling member, the upper coupling member beingconfigured to couple to the lower coupling member such that the top lineof the brief is lowered to the lower portion of the front of the brief.

It is desirable that the lower coupling member comprise a plurality ofcouplings being positioned in a vertical direction, each coupling beingconfigured to correspond to the upper coupling member.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a loop or abutton and the lower coupling member comprise a button or a loop, theupper coupling member being configured to couple to the lower couplingmember by coupling the loop and the button together.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a loop or a hookand the lower coupling member comprise a hook or a loop, the uppercoupling member being configured to couple to the lower coupling memberby coupling the loop and the hook together.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a button or abutton-hole and the lower coupling member comprise a button-hole or abutton, the upper coupling member being configured to couple to thelower coupling member by coupling the button and the button-holetogether.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a male snapfastener or a female snap fastener and the lower coupling membercomprise a female snap fastener or a male snap fastener, the uppercoupling member being configured to couple to the lower coupling memberby coupling the male snap fastener and the female snap fastenertogether.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a male Velcrostrap with hooks or a female Velcro strap with loops and the lowercoupling member comprise a female Velcro strap with loops or a maleVelcro strap with hooks, the upper coupling member being configured tocouple to the lower coupling member by coupling the male Velcro strapwith hooks and the female Velcro strap with loops together.

A brief for pregnant woman according to another embodiment of thepresent invention comprises: at least one upper coupling member beingpositioned adjacent to the top line of an upper portion of the front ofthe brief along the top line; at least one lower coupling member beingpositioned in a lower portion of the front of the brief so as tocorrespond to the upper coupling member; and a band member beingattached to the top line of the front and the rear of the brief, theupper coupling member being configured to couple to the lower couplingmember such that the top line of the brief is lowered to the lowerportion of the front of the brief.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a loop fixedbetween the band member and the front of the brief and the lowercoupling member comprise a button, the upper coupling member beingconfigured to couple to the lower coupling member by coupling the loopand the button together.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a loop fixedbetween the band member and the front of the brief and the lowercoupling member comprise a hook, the upper coupling member beingconfigured to couple to the lower coupling member by coupling the loopand the hook together.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member comprise a couple ofbutton-holes arranged in a vertical direction, each button-hole beingformed in the band member and the front of the brief, respectively, andthe lower coupling member comprise a button, the upper coupling memberbeing configured to couple to the lower coupling member by coupling theone of the button-holes and the button together.

It is desirable that the band member be attached to an exterior surfaceof the front of the brief and the hook be projected into a lowerdirection.

It is desirable that the band member be attached to the exterior orinner surface of the front of the brief and the hook be projected intoan upper direction.

It is desirable that the band member be attached to the exterior andinner surface of the front of the brief surrounding the top line of thefront of the brief and the hook be projected into a lower direction.

A brief for pregnant woman according to another embodiment of thepresent invention comprises: an upper coupling member being formed as aband and positioned at the top line of an upper portion of the front ofthe brief along the top line; and at least one lower coupling memberbeing positioned below the upper coupling member, an upper portion or alower portion of the upper coupling member being attached to the frontof the brief, at least one hole being formed at the lower portion or theupper portion of the upper coupling member, the lower coupling memberbeing configured to couple to the at least one hole such that the topline of the brief is lowered to a lower portion of the front of thebrief.

It is desirable that the upper coupling member be further positioned atthe top line of the rear of the brief along the top line.

It is desirable that the lower coupling member comprise a button, ahook, or a decoration member with coupling function.

A brief for pregnant woman according to embodiments of the presentinvention has the following advantages.

First, the height of the top line of the front of the brief pressing theabdomen can be lowered as desired according to the body type as theabdomen of pregnant women distends with the period of pregnancy.

Second, the position of the top line of the front of the brief can belowered not to press the abdomen of a pregnant woman who has a big buildand abdomen, by lowering a left and a right portion of the top linewhich are located from the center point of the top line by apredetermined length.

Third, a brief for pregnancy woman according to an embodiment increasesmanufacturing efficiency and reduces the manufacturing cost by using asimple configuration in which the top line of the front of the briefpressing the abdomen can be lowered easily by a desired height at adesired position.

Fourth, a brief for pregnancy woman according to an embodiment does notrequire a support fixture to adjust the height of the top line of thefront of the brief, and thus thereby helping the pregnant woman feel acool wearing sensation even in summer season.

Fifth, a brief for pregnancy woman according to an embodiment can bewearable as a regular brief after pregnancy period, by adjusting theheight of the top line of the front of the brief.

The advantages of the present invention are not limited to theadvantages described above. The advantages of the present inventioninclude the advantages which can be derived obviously by those havingordinary skill in the art from the description below. Even though thetitle of the present invention is a brief for pregnant woman, it doesnot necessarily exclude people who is not pregnant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) are front views of a brief for pregnant womanaccording to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) are front views of a brief for pregnant womanaccording to a second embodiment.

FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) are front views of a brief for pregnant womanaccording to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a brief for pregnant woman according to aseventh embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a brief for pregnant woman according to aneighth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a brief for pregnant woman accordingto the eighth embodiment.

FIGS. 7( a)-7(d) are cross-sectional views of a brief for pregnant womanaccording to seventh, ninth, tenth, and eleventh embodiments.

FIGS. 8( a) and 8(b) are front views of a brief for pregnant womanaccording to a twelfth embodiment.

FIGS. 9( a)-9(e) are front views of illustrating some variations of theupper coupling members of a brief for pregnant woman according to thetwelfth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A brief for pregnant woman according to the present invention can bevaried diversely and has several embodiments. Particular embodiments areillustrated in figures and will be described in detail. The presentinvention, however, is not limited to the particular embodiments butincludes all modifications, variations, and equivalents that are fallingwithin the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1( a) is a front view of a brief for pregnant woman according to afirst embodiment. A brief for pregnant woman according to the firstembodiment comprises a front 10, a rear 20, a crotch portion 30, anupper coupling member 110, and a lower coupling member 120.

The upper coupling member 110 is positioned adjacent to the top line 12of an upper portion of the front 10 of the brief. In the firstembodiment, the upper coupling member 110 is attached to a centerportion of the top line 12 of the front 10. In the first embodiment, theupper coupling member 110 comprises a loop and is denoted as the loop110 for convenience. The loop 110 can be various forms and made ofvarious materials. For example, the loop 110 can be a form of strap andthread, fabric, piping, band, plastic, metal, or decorative ring can beutilized. Elastic material can also be utilized.

The lower coupling member 120 is positioned in a lower portion of thefront 10 to correspond to the loop 110. In the first embodiment, thelower coupling member 120 comprises a button and is denoted as thebutton 120 for convenience. In the first embodiment, the term“correspond to” means that the button 120 is positioned to couple to theloop 110 together as a pair and a vertically lower location below theloop 110 is desirable for the corresponding position. Thisinterpretation of the term applies to other embodiments.

The button 120 is positioned to correspond to the loop 110 and twobuttons may be positioned in a vertical direction. According to the sizeof the abdomen of pregnant woman, one of the buttons 120 is selected andcoupled to the loop 110 so that the height of the top line 12 of thefront 10 can be adjusted appropriately. In the first embodiment, twobuttons are used, but one button or three buttons may be used.Furthermore, a button and a loop may be used as the upper couplingmember and the lower coupling member, respectively.

When the button 120 is coupled to the loop 110, as illustrated in FIG.1( b), the top line 12 of the front 10 becomes a new top line 12 a,lowering the top line 12 of the front 10. This helps alleviate thepressing on the abdomen of pregnant woman and make the pregnant womancomfortable. Furthermore, the manufacturing efficiency is increased andthe manufacturing cost is reduced by adjusting the position of the topline 12 of the front 10 easily using a simple configuration like theembodiment.

FIG. 2( a) is a front view of a brief for pregnant woman according to asecond embodiment. In the second embodiment, the brief for pregnantwoman includes a front 10, a rear 20, and a crotch portion 30 as in thefirst embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the upper coupling member 210 comprises loops,and is denoted as the loops 210 for convenience. The loops 210 arepositioned adjacent to the top line 12 of the front 10 and two loops areused in the second embodiment. Each of the two loops 210 is positionedin a left portion and in a right portion which are located from thecenter of the top line 12 of the front 10 by a predetermined length,respectively. The loops 210 can be various forms and made of variousmaterials. For example, the loops 210 can be a form of strap and thread,fabric, piping, band, plastic, metal, or decorative ring can beutilized. Elastic material can also be utilized.

The lower coupling member 220 is positioned in a lower portion of thefront 10 to correspond to the loops 210. In the second embodiment, thelower coupling member 220 comprises buttons and is denoted as thebuttons 220 for convenience. The buttons 220 are positioned tocorrespond to the loops 210 and two buttons are positioned in a verticaldirection for each loop. According to the size of the abdomen ofpregnant woman, one of the buttons 220 is selected and coupled to theloops 210 so that the position of the top line 12 of the front 10 can beadjusted appropriately. In the second embodiment, two buttons are usedfor each loop, but one button or three buttons may be used. Furthermore,a button and a loop may be used as the upper coupling member and thelower coupling member, respectively.

When the buttons 220 are coupled to the loop 210, as illustrated in FIG.2( b), the top line 12 of the front 10 becomes a new top line 12 a,lowering the top line 12 of the front 10. This helps alleviate thepressing on the abdomen of pregnant woman and make the pregnant womancomfortable. Furthermore, even a pregnant woman who has a big build andabdomen can avoid the pressing on the abdomen effectively, since theleft portion and the right portion of the top line 12 of the front 10are lowered to a lower part of the front.

In the second embodiment, it is illustrated that one loop 210 ispositioned in the left portion of the top line and the other loop 210 ispositioned in the right portion of the top line. However, two or moreloops 210 may be positioned in each left and right portion along the topline 12 of the front 10.

In the first and second embodiment described above, the upper couplingmember comprises loops and the lower coupling member comprises buttons.As will be described below, a coupling configuration applied in third tosixth embodiments can be applied to the configuration of the uppercoupling member and the lower coupling member of the first and secondembodiments.

In a third embodiment, it may have a configuration that the uppercoupling member comprises a loop and the lower coupling member comprisesa hook, or vice versa. The loop and the hook can be made of plastic ormetal material and a decorative ring can be utilized to enhance anesthetic sense of the brief.

In a fourth embodiment, it may have a configuration that the uppercoupling member comprises a button hole and the lower coupling membercomprises a button. FIGS. 3( a) and (b) illustrate the fourth embodimentof the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the upper couplingmember 310 is denoted as the button hole 310 and the lower couplingmember 320 is denoted as the button 320 for convenience.

In the fourth embodiment, the top line 12 of the front 10 is turnedinside out once, as illustrated in FIG. 3( b), in order to couple thebutton hole 310 to the button 320.

FIG. 3( a) illustrates that the upper coupling member comprises buttonholes and the lower coupling member comprises buttons. But the uppercoupling member may comprise button and the lower coupling member maycomprise button holes. In this case, the top line 12 of the front 10 isalso turned inside out once, as illustrated in FIG. 3( b), in order tocouple the buttons to the button holes.

In a fifth embodiment, the upper coupling member comprises a male snapfastener and the lower coupling member comprises a female snap fastener,or vice versa. Snap fastener is also called as popper. The top line 12of the front 10 is also turned inside out once, as illustrated in FIG.3( b), in order to couple the male snap fastener to the female snapfastener.

In a sixth embodiment, the upper coupling member comprises a male Velcrostrap with hooks and the lower coupling member comprises a female Velcrostrap with loops, or vice versa. The top line 12 of the front 10 is alsoturned inside out once, as illustrated in FIG. 3( b), in order to couplethe male Velcro strap with hooks to the female Velcro strap with loops.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a brief for pregnant woman according to aseventh embodiment. The brief for pregnant woman according to theseventh embodiment comprises a front 10, a rear 20, a crotch portion 30,an upper coupling member 410, and a lower coupling member 420.

The seventh embodiment illustrates the connection among a band member430, the front 10, and the upper coupling member 410 in detail. The bandmember 430 is attached to an exterior surface of the front 10 in theseventh embodiment, and the band member 430 is attached along the topline 12 of the front 10 and the top line 22 of the rear 20. Elasticmaterials are desirable for the band member 430, but non-elasticmaterial may be used. It is desirable that the band member 430 beattached to the front 10 and the rear 20 with stitching.

In the seventh embodiment, the upper coupling member 410 comprise aloop, and is denoted as the loop 410 for convenience. The loop 410 isfixed between the band member 430 and the exterior surface of the front10 and is projected into a lower direction. It is desirable that theloop 410 be fixed with stitching at the same time when the band member430 is stitched to the front, and thus thereby fixing the loop 410 tothe front 10 firmly. Various materials can be used for the loop 410. Forexample, the loop 410 can be a form of strap and thread, fabric, piping,or band can be utilized. Elastic material can also be utilized.

The lower coupling member 420 is positioned in a lower portion of thefront 10 to correspond to the loop 410. In the seventh embodiment, thelower coupling member 420 comprises buttons and is denoted as thebuttons 420 for convenience. The buttons 420 are positioned tocorrespond to the loop 410 and two buttons are positioned in a verticaldirection. According to the size of the abdomen of pregnant woman, oneof the buttons 220 is selected and coupled to the loops 210 so that theposition of the top line 12 of the front 10 can be adjusted as desired.In the seventh embodiment, two buttons are used for illustrationpurpose, but one button or three buttons arranged in a verticaldirection may be used. Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, loopsand the buttons may be positioned in a left portion and a right portionof the front. As in the third embodiment, the lower coupling member maycomprise a hook. The hook can be made of plastic or metal material and adecorative ring can be utilized to enhance an esthetic sense of thebrief.

When one of the buttons 420 is coupled to the loop 410, the top line 12of the front 10 is lowered to a lower position. This helps alleviate thepressing by the brief on the abdomen of pregnant woman.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a brief for pregnant woman according to aneighth embodiment.

The brief for pregnant woman according to the eighth embodimentcomprises a front 10, a rear 20, a crotch portion 30, an upper couplingmember 510, and a lower coupling member 520.

FIG. 5 illustrates a band member 530 attached to an exterior surface ofthe front 10 and the rear 20, but the band member 530 may be attached toan inner surface of the front 10 and the rear 20 or may be formed tosurround the top line of the front 10 and the rear 20.

The band member 530 is attached to the exterior surface of the front 10,and is attached along the top line 12 of the front 10 and the top line22 of the rear 20. Elastic materials are desirable for the band member530, but non-elastic material may be used. It is desirable that the bandmember 530 be attached to the front 10 and the rear 20 with stitching.

In the eighth embodiment, the upper coupling member 410 comprises twobutton holes, and is denoted as the button holes 510 for convenience.The button holes 410 comprise an upper button hole 510 a and a lowerbutton hole 510 b. It is desirable that the upper button hole 510 a beformed in the band member 530 and the lower button hole 510 b be formedin the front 10 at a lower position below the upper button hole 510 a.

The lower coupling member 520 is positioned in a lower portion of thefront 10 to correspond to the button holes 510. In the eighthembodiment, the lower coupling member 520 comprises buttons and isdenoted as the buttons 520 for convenience. The buttons 520 arepositioned to correspond to the button holes 510 and an upper button 520a and a lower button 520 b are positioned in a vertical direction.According to the size of the abdomen of pregnant woman, one of thebuttons 520 is selected and coupled to the button holes 510 so that theposition of the top line 12 of the front 10 can be adjusted as desired.When one of the buttons 520 is coupled to one of the button holes 510,the top line 12 of the front 10 is lowered to a lower position. Thishelps alleviate the pressing by the brief on the abdomen of pregnantwoman and make the pregnant woman comfortable.

FIG. 6 illustrates a coupling configuration of a brief for pregnantwoman according to an eighth embodiment. In the eighth embodiment, anupper button hole 510 a or a lower button hole 510 b may be coupled toan upper button 520 a or a lower button 520 b, as in the fourthembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3( b), by lowering the top line 12 of thefront 10. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 6, one of the buttons, the upperbutton 520 a in here, may be coupled to the lower button hole 510 b andthe upper button hole 510 a in turn by folding an upper portion of thefront 10 twice, and thus thereby coupling one of the buttons 520 to thebutton holes 510 firmly.

In the eighth embodiment, two buttons are used for illustration purpose,but one button or three buttons arranged in a vertical direction may beused. Furthermore, as in the second embodiment, the button holes 510 andthe buttons 520 may be positioned in a left portion and a right portionof the front.

FIGS. 7( a)-7(d) illustrate detailed variations of couplingconfiguration between a loop and a band member of a brief for pregnantwoman.

FIG. 7( a) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brief for pregnantwoman according to the seventh embodiment. The band member 430 isattached to an upper portion of the exterior surface of the front 10along the top line 12 of the front 10 and may be further attached alongthe top line of the rear. The loop 410 is fixed between the band member430 and the exterior surface of the front 10 and is projected into alower direction.

FIG. 7( b) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brief for pregnantwoman according to the ninth embodiment. The band member 630 is attachedto an upper portion of the exterior surface of the front 10 along thetop line 12 of the front 10 and may be further attached along the topline of the rear. The loop 610 is fixed between the band member 630 andthe exterior surface of the front 10 and is projected into an upperdirection. The loop 610 is coupled to the button 620 by folding theupper portion of the front 10 in a lower direction.

FIG. 7( c) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brief for pregnantwoman according to the tenth embodiment. The band member 730 is attachedto an upper portion of the inner surface of the front 10 along the topline 12 of the front 10 and may be further attached along the top lineof the rear. The loop 710 is fixed between the band member 730 and theinner surface of the front 10 and is projected into an upper direction.The loop 710 is coupled to the button 720 by folding the upper portionof the front 10 in a lower direction.

FIG. 7( d) illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brief for pregnantwoman according to the eleventh embodiment. The band member 830surrounds the top line 12 of the front 10 and is attached to an innersurface and exterior surface of the front 10 along the top line 12 ofthe front 10 and may be further attached along the top line of the rear.The loop 810 is fixed between the band member 830 and the exteriorsurface of the front 10 and is projected into a lower direction.

FIGS. 8( a) and 8(b) are front views of a brief for pregnant womanaccording to a twelfth embodiment. The brief for pregnant womanaccording to the twelfth embodiment comprises a front 10, a rear 20, acrotch portion 30, an upper coupling member 910, and a lower couplingmember 920.

The upper coupling member 910 is a form of band. It is desirable thatthe upper coupling member 910 be attached to the top line 12 of thefront 10 along the top line 12. The upper coupling member 910 may befurther attached to the top line 22 of the rear 20 along the top line 22of the rear 20.

An upper portion 911 of the upper coupling member 910 may be attached toan exterior surface or inner surface of the front 10 with stitching andmay also be attached by an adhesive. The upper portion 911 of the uppercoupling member 910, as illustrated in FIG. 8( a), is attached to thefront 10 of the brief with stitches 913, but a lower portion 912 of theupper coupling member 910 is not attached to the front 10 of the brief.A plurality of holes 915 are formed in the lower portion 912 of theupper coupling member 910. As illustrated in FIG. 8( a), it is desirablethat the plurality of holes 915 be arranged in a row along the top line12. Elastic materials are desirable for the upper coupling member 910,but non-elastic material may be used.

As a variation of the upper coupling member 910, the lower portion 912of the upper coupling member 910 may be attached to the exterior surfaceor inner surface of the front 10 of the brief. In this case, the upperportion 911 of the upper coupling member 910 is not attached to thefront 10 of the brief. The upper portion 911 of the upper couplingmember 910 is projected into an upper direction beyond the top line 12of the brief and a plurality of holes 915 are formed in the upperportion 911. It is desirable that the plurality of holes 915 be arrangedin a row along the top line 12.

The lower coupling member 920 is attached to the front 10 of the briefand may be further attached to a portion of the rear 20 abutting to thefront 10. The lower coupling member 920 is positioned in a lower portionof the front below the upper coupling member 910. It is desirable thatthe lower coupling member 920 comprise buttons, hooks or decorationmembers with coupling function and is denoted as the buttons 920 forconvenience. A plurality of buttons 920, as illustrated in FIG. 8( a),are positioned in a lower portion below the upper coupling member 910and may be arranged in a left portion and in a right portion along thetop line 12 or arranged in a vertical direction. The position of the topline 12 of the front 10 can be adjusted according to the size of theabdomen of pregnant woman, by selecting appropriate buttons and couplingthem to the holes 915 of the upper coupling member 910.

When the buttons 920 are coupled to the holes 915, as illustrated inFIG. 8( b), the top line 12 of the front 10 becomes a new top line 12 a,lowering the top line 12 of the front 10 to a lower portion of theabdomen of pregnant woman and thus thereby alleviating the pressing onthe abdomen and making the pregnant woman comfortable. Furthermore, themanufacturing efficiency is increased and the manufacturing cost isreduced by adjusting the position of the top line 12 of the front 10easily using a simple configuration like the embodiment. The top line 22of the rear 20 can also be adjusted to a new top line 22 a according tothe position of the buttons 920.

FIGS. 9( a)-9(e) are front views illustrating some variations of theupper coupling member of a brief for pregnant woman according to thetwelfth embodiment. FIGS. 9( a)-9(e) illustrate various forms of theupper coupling member 910 a-910 e and holes 915 a-915 e and theirfunctions are as described above. The upper coupling member of the brieffor pregnant woman according to the twelfth embodiment is not limited tothe forms and configurations illustrated and may be changed further tovarious forms and configurations. Moreover, elastic materials aredesirable for the upper coupling member, but non-elastic material may beused.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10: front-   12: top line of the front-   20: rear-   22: top line of the rear-   30: crotch portion-   110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910: upper coupling member-   120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, 920: lower coupling member-   430, 530, 630, 730, 830: band member-   911: upper portion of upper coupling member-   912: lower portion of upper coupling member-   913: stitches-   915: holes

1. A brief for pregnant woman comprising: at least one upper couplingmember being positioned adjacent to a top line of an upper portion of afront of the brief along the top line; and at least one lower couplingmember being positioned in a lower portion of the front of the brief soas to correspond to the upper coupling member, the upper coupling memberbeing configured to couple to the lower coupling member such that thetop line of the brief is lowered to the lower portion of the front ofthe brief.
 2. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 1, wherein the lowercoupling member comprises a plurality of couplings being positioned in avertical direction, each coupling being configured to correspond to theupper coupling member.
 3. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 1,wherein the upper coupling member comprises a loop or a button and thelower coupling member comprises a button or a loop, the upper couplingmember being configured to couple to the lower coupling member bycoupling the loop and the button together.
 4. The brief for pregnantwoman of claim 1, wherein the upper coupling member comprises a loop ora hook and the lower coupling member comprises a hook or a loop, theupper coupling member being configured to couple to the lower couplingmember by coupling the loop and the hook together.
 5. The brief forpregnant woman of claim 1, wherein the upper coupling member comprises abutton or a button-hole and the lower coupling member comprises abutton-hole or a button, the upper coupling member being configured tocouple to the lower coupling member by coupling the button and thebutton-hole together.
 6. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 1,wherein the upper coupling member comprises a male snap fastener or afemale snap fastener and the lower coupling member comprises a femalesnap fastener or a male snap fastener, the upper coupling member beingconfigured to couple to the lower coupling member by coupling the malesnap fastener and the female snap fastener together.
 7. The brief forpregnant woman of claim 1, wherein the upper coupling member comprises amale Velcro strap with hooks or a female Velcro strap with loops and thelower coupling member comprises a female Velcro strap with loops or amale Velcro strap with hooks, the upper coupling member being configuredto couple to the lower coupling member by coupling the male Velcro strapwith hooks and the female Velcro strap with loops together.
 8. A brieffor pregnant woman comprising: at least one upper coupling member beingpositioned adjacent to a top line of an upper portion of a front of thebrief along the top line; at least one lower coupling member beingpositioned in a lower portion of the front of the brief so as tocorrespond to the upper coupling member; and a band member beingattached to the top line of the front and the rear of the brief, theupper coupling member being configured to couple to the lower couplingmember such that the top line of the brief is lowered to the lowerportion of the front of the brief.
 9. The brief for pregnant woman ofclaim 8, wherein the upper coupling member comprises a loop fixedbetween the band member and the front of the brief and the lowercoupling member comprises a button, the upper coupling member beingconfigured to couple to the lower coupling member by coupling the loopand the button together.
 10. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 8,wherein the upper coupling member comprises a loop fixed between theband member and the front of the brief and the lower coupling membercomprises a hook, the upper coupling member being configured to coupleto the lower coupling member by coupling the loop and the hook together.11. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 8, wherein the upper couplingmember comprises a couple of button-holes arranged in a verticaldirection, each button-hole being formed in the band member and thefront of the brief, respectively, and the lower coupling membercomprises a button, the upper coupling member being configured to coupleto the lower coupling member by coupling the one of the button-holes andthe button together.
 12. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 10,wherein the band member is attached to an exterior surface of the frontof the brief and the loop is projected into a lower direction.
 13. Thebrief for pregnant woman of claim 10, wherein the band member isattached to an exterior or inner surface of the front of the brief andthe loop is projected into an upper direction.
 14. The brief forpregnant woman of claim 10, wherein the band member is attached to anexterior and inner surface of the front of the brief surrounding the topline of the front of the brief and the loop is projected into a lowerdirection.
 15. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 1, wherein theupper coupling member is formed as a band, an upper portion or a lowerportion of the upper coupling member being attached to the front of thebrief, at least one hole being formed at the lower portion or the upperportion of the upper coupling member, the lower coupling member beingconfigured to couple to the at least one hole such that the top line ofthe brief is lowered to a lower portion of the front of the brief. 16.The brief for pregnant woman of claim 15, wherein the upper couplingmember is further positioned at a top line of a rear of the brief alongthe top line.
 17. The brief for pregnant woman of claim 15, wherein thelower coupling member comprises a button, a hook, or a decoration memberwith coupling function.